SLOPPY SECONDS

No sports team in NYC has the amount of drama than the NY Mets. Every statement or move made by the team is dissected and debated and met with skepticism. A simple report stating that shoulder surgery outpatient John Santana, has a bit of discomfort in his repaired shoulder is met with fans crying about the new front office covering up the severity of the pitchers injury and not being up front about his recovery. WHEW!!! And this is only March!!!! Hopefully this is just a symptom of the dog days of spring training as we near the two week mark to opening day when the real fun around here will start.

This report has been met with a collective head scratching by the fan base as the move to Hernandez really makes no sense except when you really think about it, the message being sent is the Mets have no second baseman.

While Hernandez is a fine glove man he possesses none of the characteristics of an Alderson player by getting on base via walks or having some power, so his being ordained the 2nd baseman is hard to swallow.

Daniel Murphy, works his ass off trying to play whatever position he’s asked to by the organization. Unfortunately, that hard work on defense has not translated into Murph being a very good 2nd baseman. Murph will make the team as a super sub/lefty bat off the bench.

Justin Turner has the Scarlet letter “O” planted on him the “O” standing for options to the minors. Turner and Brad Emaus fit the mold of the player this front offices fancies solid on base numbers, pop in the bat as well and ready and able to field the position.

That leaves Luis Castillo last and least as the second sack option. As much as Castillo has hit very well this spring, the manager is fed up with his piss poor attitude in the clubhouse. Instead of sulking like the overpaid has been that he is, if Castillo embraced the competition at the position and fought for his job, most likely it would have been his but at this point in his Mets career he has earned the right to be known as an ex-Met.

Who knows maybe the opening day 2nd baseman isn’t even in Mets camp ?

My guess is Brad Emaus gets the opening day job with Murphy playing when fly ball pitcher takes the mound. Justin Turner gets optioned to Buffalo, Luis Hernandez goes on waivers and does not get claimed and is signed by Mets to minor league deal. Castillo gets his $6 mil severance pay and sits on his front porch sulking when the mail man is late with the check.

As far as Luis Hernandez goes, I don’t see a huge reason to choose him over Luis Castillo other than the fact that he’s not Castillo. But if Alderson and Collins wanted to break with the old regime so badly, why are Castillo and Perez still in camp? The fact that they are still around tells me that this decision will be made based on rational considerations and not just the removal of the vestiges of the Minaya regime. That’s why Hernandez doesn’t seem to make sense. What’s he got that Castillo doesn’t have? Not much…

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